# In-N-Out is OFFICIALLY the best fast-food chain. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712 "2010-02-04T20:32:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/41 "2010-02-05T02:51:11Z")
Are there any places in America where the bulk of those places are within driving distance? Cuz, if so…I want to go to there 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/42 "2010-02-05T03:03:43Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Never ate at any of these except Panera. It appears the survey is heavily geographically biased. > > Further, chains like [Five Guys Hamburgers](http://www.fiveguys.com/home.aspx) or [Red Hot and Blue](http://www.redhotandblue.com/) are much better. > > ETA: I see In and Out uses vegetable oil for their fries. This automatically makes them inferior to Five Guys, which uses peanut oil As soon as I saw the list, I was shocked to see that Five Guys was missing. I go to the one in East Greenbush and it’s the one place my mom insists we go to when she visits. I’ve been to Chick-fil-a when I lived in North Carolina and I hated it. It’s the goddamned pickles that made it taste so horrible. I’ve recently become addicted to Panera. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/43 "2010-02-05T04:35:46Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Sandelman & Associates released its [2009 Quick-Track Awards of Excellence](http://www.chainleader.com/article/447229-Fast_Food_Restaurant_Ratings_Improve_in_2009.php) report, based on feedback from 90,000 customers ranking 140 U.S. fast-food chains on overall satisfaction, taste, speed, and value. > > 1. In-N-Out Excessively long lines and mediocre food. Overrated by a long shot. There’s simply nothing special about the taste of their food. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/44 "2010-02-05T04:46:24Z")
> [@Nutty\_Bunny](#): > > I’ve been to Chick-fil-a when I lived in North Carolina and I hated it. It’s the goddamned pickles that made it taste so horrible. > > . You know you CAN ask em to not put the pickles on it 🙂 Which reminds me, I have NEVER EVER run across any burger joint where the pickle slices they used on the hamburger werent absolute crap. And I am a guy who likes pickles so much I drink the juice as well. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/45 "2010-02-05T04:53:43Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > Going strictly on taste, I don’t get it. In-N-Out is OK, I guess, but nothing special… It’s what I would call the quintessential American pan-griddled fast-food burger. It depends on what you’re looking for in a burger, but if you like those 30s/40s/50s-style fast-food hamburgers (thin patty, simple toppings, as opposed to pub or gourmet burgers), it’s, IMO, the best example of the bunch. Five Guys does a good job, too, but I give In-N-Out the edge. It’s about as good as a fast food chain gets, in terms of food and service. Very clean, fresh flavors that showcase the quality of their ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/46 "2010-02-05T05:10:57Z")
> [@Nutty\_Bunny](#): > > As soon as I saw the list, I was shocked to see that Five Guys was missing. I go to the one in East Greenbush and it’s the one place my mom insists we go to when she visits. > > I’ve been to Chick-fil-a when I lived in North Carolina and I hated it. It’s the goddamned pickles that made it taste so horrible. > > I’ve recently become addicted to Panera. Interesting how people’s tastes differ. I’m rarely in a part of the country that has Chick-fil-A, but when I am, I try to go. I think it’s the pickles that make their sandwiches so good! ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/47 "2010-02-05T05:39:16Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > In and Out does have the best fries though. They actually cut up the potatoes where you can see them. I bet not many other places even have whole potatos as part of the process! Well, Penn Station, Five Guys, 96th Street Steakburgers (a midwest clone of In and Out) and Ted’s Montana Grill (not really fast food) would be just a few I can name that use the same potato press for their fries. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/48 "2010-02-05T05:39:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s what I would call the quintessential American pan-griddled fast-food burger. It depends on what you’re looking for in a burger, but if you like those 30s/40s/50s-style fast-food hamburgers (thin patty, simple toppings, as opposed to pub or gourmet burgers), it’s, IMO, the best example of the bunch. Five Guys does a good job, too, but I give In-N-Out the edge. It’s about as good as a fast food chain gets, in terms of food and service. Very clean, fresh flavors that showcase the quality of their ingredients. I also like supporting them for their good business practices. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/49 "2010-02-05T05:49:03Z")
> [@Nutty\_Bunny](#): > > As soon as I saw the list, I was shocked to see that Five Guys was missing. I go to the one in East Greenbush and it’s the one place my mom insists we go to when she visits. > > I’ve been to Chick-fil-a when I lived in North Carolina and I hated it. It’s the goddamned pickles that made it taste so horrible. > > I’ve recently become addicted to Panera. Just get the number one with no pickle..thats what i do.. Panera’s is okay.. Giordano’s is solid.. Prefer Eduardo’s in Chicago.. but if i’m in orlando Giordano’s will do.. Allergic to peanuts so i can comment on five guys.. but in and out is solid and i support how they do busiiness… same with Chik fila… ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/50 "2010-02-05T06:07:28Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > The only thing negative I can say about In-n-out is the non-intrusive biblical quotes on their drink cups and burger wrappers. They’re so unobtrusive that I never would have noticed them had not someone else alerted me to their presence. I haven’t looked at one in a while, but unless they’ve changed recently they aren’t actual _quotes_, just citations. [Here’s an example](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:In-n-out-bible-reference.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/51 "2010-02-05T06:28:05Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > Yeah, no crap. If you order a stuffed pizza at Giordano’s, be prepared to wait up to 45 minutes for it to hit your table. Not really “fast” to me. Yeah that’s what I thought when I saw that list. Not a place to go to when you’re starving. Smelling other people’s pizzas for a good part of an hour while waiting for your own would drive anyone insane. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/52 "2010-02-05T06:28:50Z")
1. In-N-Out - Wha? 2. Capriotti’s - Who? 3. Chick-fil-A - #3 …really? Not that impressed - They’re OK, but really they are nothing special taste-wise. 4. Raising Cane’s - Huh? 5. Panera Bread - Fast Food? What are they smoking. Very good and consistent quality. Bread is top notch. I love Panera. 6. Giordano’s Pizza - Where? 7. Cafe Rio - Ummm? 8. Idaho Pizza Company - Pizza in Idaho? 9. Penn Station - I’ve never… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/53 "2010-02-05T06:34:17Z")
> [@astro](#): > > 1. Panera Bread - Fast Food? What are they smoking. Very good and consistent quality. Bread is top notch. I love Panera. How is Panera _not_ fast food? If I’m remembering the right Panera, it’s a quick counter service sandwich shop/cafe. Now, Giordano’s is not fast food by any stretch of the imagination, but Panera is. [Business Week](http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_16/b3980084.htm) calls it fast food, although it seems to prefer the term “quick-serve.” Whatever. Same thing. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/54 "2010-02-05T12:04:42Z")
Panera is not a “quick counter service” anything (other than the coffee drinks). You get your order taken at the counter, but then you go sit down and wait for the pager to bring you back to get your order, and it’s only quick in the most gross sense of that word. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/55 "2010-02-05T17:07:35Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Panera is not a “quick counter service” anything (other than the coffee drinks). You get your order taken at the counter, but then you go sit down and wait for the pager to bring you back to get your order, and it’s only quick in the most gross sense of that word. 😃 OK, then I’m misremembering Panera. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/56 "2010-02-05T17:51:18Z")
Of the 10 places listed, Panera is the only one that exists anywhere near where I live (although we used to have a Chik-fil-a a long time ago), and except for In-n-Out, I’ve never frickin’ heard of any of the others. So I guess that agrees with my theory, that when it comes to fast food, quality is inversely proportional to ubiquity. I think of Panera as more of a competitor to bakeries and coffee shops (like Starbucks) that also serve food, than to fast food places like McDonald’s or Subway. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/57 "2010-02-05T17:59:58Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I think of Panera as more of a competitor to bakeries and coffee shops (like Starbucks) that also serve food, than to fast food places like McDonald’s or Subway. They’ve increased their focus on meals over the past few years, moving them beyond a coffee shop / bakery (which is what they were originally focused on). The Panera near my house is _packed_ at lunchtime. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/58 "2010-02-06T03:39:15Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Excuse you, rude. Bakersfield is indeed super hip and urban, TYVM.:mad: > 😉 That made me grin. I used to go to Bakersfield every other week for work, about 2003, and depsite the concert arena, Arena Football team, minor league baseball and minor league hockey, that was one (upwardly aspirational in many parts) hick town. I have one word for those acquainted: Oildale. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/59 "2010-02-06T04:57:48Z")
I like Baja Fresh. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712/60 "2010-02-06T08:25:36Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > That made me grin. I used to go to Bakersfield every other week for work, about 2003, and depsite the concert arena, Arena Football team, minor league baseball and minor league hockey, that was one (upwardly aspirational in many parts) hick town. > > I have one word for those acquainted: Oildale. Not part of Bakersfield, technically speaking. Lord knows none of us claim that hell hole either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-n-out-is-officially-the-best-fast-food-chain/527712.md?page=4)